choice

the wolf princess

trigger warning.. 
   gore, bugs, nightmares, being watched
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   The walls of the palace felt suffocating despite the size of the building. The eyes in each oil-painting hung on the walls seemed to follow the palace's guests and residents; always watching as if expecting something. Seeming to have been preserved in time ever since it was made hundreds of years ago, there was a haunted weight hanging over the palace like a heavy storm cloud. The castle-grounds themselves seemed to be holding their breaths; perhaps as to avoid blowing out the candles flickering on antique light fixtures. 

   Sat on the middle step of the grand staircase, Y/N lost herself in the sound of rain pouring outside. It was early in the morning and the sun had yet to rise, but Y/N had woken up after a nightmare so horrid that she couldn't close her eyes again without feeling a crawling sensation underneath her skin.. perhaps because she'd dreamt of chunks of her skin falling off with maggots writhing in the broken flesh and ticks embedded in her bloodless wounds. She often had nightmares as vivid as these, but her dreams were usually stories with plots deserving of their own book franchise. 

   "Y/N?" A deep voice called from the floor above. A tall dark-haired man with a beard and sharp, pale eyes began his descent down the stairs towards his daughter. "It's only 4 in the morning. What are you doing awake?" King Louis asked, resting one hand on the handrail of the staircase.

   Y/N didn't look up, sighing and rubbing one eye. "Couldn't sleep." She mumbled, swiveling to face her father. "What are you doing up?"

   A light chuckle escaped the king's lips, but his smile didn't meet his eyes. In the dim candlelight the dark circles beneath his eyes were clear. "I have a lot of work to do today. It's best that I get an early start." With a grunt, he sat down on the step above Y/N. "I do have some news for you, though." 

   Curious, Y/N arched one brow, crossing her arms over her knees. "Oh? Is it good news, or am I dying in three days?" She asked in a joking tone.

   "You've always complained about how much you hate being tutored here and how you want to go to a real school and meet werewolves your age, right?" Y/N's father started, a smile tugging at his mouth. Clearly he was happy to give his daughter news that he knew she would appreciate. 

   Y/N stayed quiet, though she felt her heart flutter with excitement at the idea of getting to leave the palace, even if it was for something as boring as school.  She let her father continue, her eyes sparkling in the flickering candlelight. 

   "Well, until now there haven't been any.. safe or good schools for omegas. Schools focused on omegas only focused on taking care of pups. I wanted you to have the same education opportunities that betas and alphas have, so I had you learn things here." He paused, doubling back. "Not that learning about raising pups isn't important- but it's not the only important thing, and it should be important to us alphas too." He seemed to realize that he was rambling, rubbing his beard with a soft smile. Though he was the intimidating king of all werewolves, he had always been a genuine and kind man. He cleared his throat, continuing. "Let me get to the point.. a school has opened for alphas, betas and omegas alike. It's a private school, but you'll still get to live here instead of some dorm. It's only a fifteen minute drive away. But, I know how well you and your tutor get along and I know it might be uncomfortable for you to be around alphas and betas, so it's completely up to y-"

   Before he could finish, Y/N spoke. "I'll go. Alex can help me with my homework. They're good at literally everything that requires a brain." She grinned, then met her father's gaze. "Thanks, dad." She let out a faint trill of joy under her breath, her eyes alight with glee. 

   King Louis smiled, the whiskers of his beard twitching above his lip. "Great. You'll start next week." He stood up, stretching slightly with his hands on his back. He leaned down and ruffled Y/N's hair. "Try to get a few more hours of sleep, kiddo." He suggested before retreating back upstairs to his study. 

   But now, Y/N definitely couldn't sleep. Adrenaline coursed through her veins at the thought of meeting werewolves that weren't ancient politicians or rich assholes trying to get her father to work with them on some business deal. Her gaze drifting towards the large window by the front doors, she watched singular raindrops race down the clear glass, her heart pounding with anxiety and excitement about what was to come.